DANVILLE, Ky. -
The size and overall talent of the players will be different but "basketball is still basketball" when Gavin Root is coaching.
That's why the Centre College coach is excited about the opportunity to be the assistant coach for La Familia, Kentucky's alumni team playing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) starting July 18.
Root has connections with La Familia general manager Twany Beckham, a member of Kentucky's 2012 national championship team, through working summer camps at UK. He also got a boost from a Centre College alumni who knew La Familia head coach Jon Hood, another former UK player.
"Jon gave me a call about this opportunity. I knew a ton about him and I have been wanting to do this for a while," said Root Thursday after his position was announced. "I know my job is to be there for the head coach and provide whatever help I can. Show up early, stay late, have a good attitude, do what you are asked.
"I really think we have a really special group of former UK players along with some other guys with in-state connections who will all do what it takes to win."
Former UK players scheduled to play are DeAndre Liggins, Reid Travis, Willie Cauley-Stein, Andrew Harrison, Kahlil Whitney, Quade Green and Archie Goodwin. The team also includes 6-foot-8 Chris Coffey, a former player at Georgetown College, and Sean McNeil, a Union, Ky., native who played at Ohio State and West Virginia.
Root actually played against Green in 2018 when he hit a 3-pointer for Transylvania in a 94-66 loss to UK. Green had 13 points. That UK team included current NBA players Keldon Johnson, PJ Washington and Immanuel Quickley.
"Andrew Harrison is my age and so is Willie Cauley-Stein," Root, who led Centre to a 14-12 mark last season in his first year as head coach, said. "We are all relatively close to the same age, so that will make it fun for me, too.
The team starts practice Monday and will play its first game July 18 at noon in Memorial Coliseum against Louisville's alumni team. The past two years La Familia has scrimmaged against Kentucky coach Mark Pope's team.
"I love being around great players but basketball is basketball. You do the same things at the University of Kentucky that you do at Centre College," he said. "Nothing scares me about this opportunity.
"There is no brand better than the University of Kentucky brand. Now I get to represent that and represent Centre College, too."
He's told his 2026-27 team what he will be doing and several of his Centre players will be helping with practices next week.
"That will be a cool thing for them to get to be around these guys," Root said. "Our team is divided pretty equally between Kentucky and Louisville fans, so this will create some extra fun.
"I know there will be some people looking and wondering who is this guy (Root). I am not a former Kentucky player but this is a great way to get Centre's name out there and show what Centre is all about. I am guessing not many La Familia guys will know about Centre College but this way I can put our brand out there."
Root was in Atlanta recruiting Thursday and hopes the La Familia experience/exposure might eventually benefit Centre's recruiting.
"I can now say I have worked with pros and high level players," he said. "If I could get somebody related to one of these players at Centre that would be great. If I could get a baby Willie Cauley-Stein to Danville I would take that."
Centre will host its Elite Camp (https://centre.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0vVsdvNMiUwJKrY) on Aug. 8 but even if La Familia wins the tournament and the $2 million prize, it will not interfere with Root's schedule.
"I think the championship finals are Aug. 2, so that's plenty early enough for me to have everything in great shape for camp," he said
